Seattle bike share kicks off

500 Pronto Cycle Share bikes will be based at 50 stations across Seattle

By JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated
6:35 pm PDT, Monday, October 13, 2014

A rider participating in an inaugural ride prepares to check out a bike from Pronto Cycle Share as the program is launched in Seattle on Monday, October 13, 2014. The program will have 500 bicycles available for rent at 50 stations mostly in the core of Seattle. less

A rider participating in an inaugural ride prepares to check out a bike from Pronto Cycle Share as the program is launched in Seattle on Monday, October 13, 2014. The program will have 500 bicycles available ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

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A rider participating in an inaugural ride prepares to check out a bike from Pronto Cycle Share as the program is launched in Seattle on Monday, October 13, 2014. The program will have 500 bicycles available for rent at 50 stations mostly in the core of Seattle. less

A rider participating in an inaugural ride prepares to check out a bike from Pronto Cycle Share as the program is launched in Seattle on Monday, October 13, 2014. The program will have 500 bicycles available ... more

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO, SEATTLEPI.COM

Seattle bike share kicks off

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Hundreds of green bicycles were introduced to the streets of Seattle on Monday morning.

After an inaugural ride from Benaroya Hall to Pioneer Square —and speeches by local leaders and program officials— riders began fanning across downtown with Seattle's newest way to get around.

Pronto Cycle Share and the program's initial round of 500 bicycles hit the streets thanks to a combination of public and private financing. Some of the money includes grants from King County and the City of Seattle. Corporate sponsors also make up some of the funding for the program.

The rental bikes are seven-speed commuter cycles with a pedal-powered headlight. The bikes are lighter than similar cycle share bikes used in other cities, and are based on a bicycle manufactured by Arcade Cycles, a French company.

Users with an annual membership use a key fob to unlock a bike at one of 50 stations that are located in downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Belltown, South Lake Union, the University District, Eastlake, Pioneer Square and the International District. Bikes will be redistributed by drivers in vans when too many cluster in one area, such as rental stations downhill from other stations.

Helmets are provided as part of the rental in cabinets at the bike stations and are returned there for cleaning and inspection before being reused, said Holly Houser, Pronto Cycle Share executive director. The Seattle program is the first in the U.S. that includes helmet use as part of the rental.

Annual memberships for the bike share program range from $85 to $125. The first half hour of usage is free and there is a charge beyond that for use of the bike.